PFNonwovens Group and Borealis set new industry standard for sustainable personal hygiene product manufacturing

Nonwoven material for diapers produced by PFNonwovens contains renewably-sourced and ISCC PLUS mass balance certified polypropylene from the Borealis’ Bornewables™ portfolio of circular polyolefins.
© Borealis

(IN BRIEF) PFNonwovens Group has partnered with Borealis to enhance its production of nonwoven materials for personal hygiene products with the aim of achieving a circular business model. The use of certified renewable™ polymers from Borealis will help manufacturers combine efficient processability with significant environmental benefits. The Bornewables PP used by PFNonwovens Group is made with second-generation raw material feedstock derived entirely from waste and residue vegetable oil streams, with renewable content accredited under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification standard, providing full transparency from raw materials to finished products. This partnership sets a new industry standard for personal hygiene product manufacturing and demonstrates a commitment to sustainable practices and a circular economy.

(PRESS RELEASE) VIENNA, 18-Apr-2023 — /EuropaWire/ —  Borealis, an Austrian chemical company active in the fields of polyolefins and the European front-runner in polyolefins recycling, base chemicals and fertilizers, and PFNonwovens Group has partnered to enhance their production of nonwoven materials for personal hygiene products, such as diapers and feminine hygiene products, with the aim of achieving a circular business model. By utilizing certified renewable™ polymers from Borealis, manufacturers can combine efficient processability with significant benefits for the environment.

Bornewables can replace fossil-based polyolefins and require no changes to the existing manufacturing process, delivering the same high quality and performance as previous non-renewable materials. By using Bornewables, PFNonwovens Group can offer their customers value-added and sustainable solutions for personal hygiene products.

Borealis is committed to accelerating action on circularity, and as part of this mission, Bornewables PP used by PFNonwovens Group is made with second-generation raw material feedstock derived entirely from waste and residue vegetable oil streams. The renewable content in all Bornewables products is accredited under the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification standard, providing full transparency and confirming their authenticity from raw materials to finished products.

“Anticipating the growing demand for more sustainable nonwoven solutions, we have focused our development resources over the past several years on the circular sphere to accelerate our journey towards climate neutrality,” explains Tonny De Beer, Chief Product, Technology & Sustainability Officer at PFNonwovens Group. ““For PFN’s nonwoven products, fossil-based resins are today the main contributor to the carbon footprint. Therefore, using the Borealis Bornewables instead of standard fossil-based resins will significantly reduce the carbon footprint, even enabling products with a carbon footprint under zero.”

Through this partnership, PFNonwovens Group and Borealis are setting a new industry standard for personal hygiene product manufacturing, demonstrating their commitment to sustainable practices and a circular economy.

Borealis is committed to accelerating action on circularity, and as part of this initiative, PFNonwovens (PFN) is using Bornewables PP in its products. This PP is made from second-generation raw material feedstock derived entirely from waste and residue vegetable oil streams. The renewable content in all Bornewables products is accredited by the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) PLUS certification standard, which ensures their authenticity and provides fully transparent traceability from the raw materials to the finished products.

Through a collaboration with PFN, Borealis has leveraged its expertise in polymer science and development to create nonwovens that minimize CO₂ emissions while reducing waste and fossil depletion. This approach delivers cost-efficient products for the hygiene market with a premium look and feel, and serves as a model of Borealis’ commitment to reinventing essentials for sustainable living in partnership with value chain partners who share common goals.

Borealis has adopted the mass balance approach for its renewable and chemically recycled polymers, which enables manufacturers to trace the exact share of sustainable feedstock allocated to their products. The ISCC PLUS certificates are audited annually to ensure compliance with all requirements, making it possible for customers to meet ambitious sustainability targets and stay on top of changing legislation. PFN can claim a maximum equivalent amount of nonwoven material as certified renewable for every tonne of certified Bornewables PP used in production.

“The combination of our expertise in polymer science and development with PFN’s processing know-how has resulted in nonwovens that make full use of the Bornewables advantages to minimise CO₂ emissions. Together we are reducing both waste and fossil depletion, while delivering cost-efficient products for the hygiene market with a premium look and feel,” adds Peter Voortmans, Global Commercial Director Consumer Product at Borealis. “At the same time, it serves as a role model of Borealis’ commitment to re-invent essentials for sustainable living in collaboration with value chain partners who share common goals.”

PFN’s new Bornewables-based products for the personal hygiene market will be showcased at INDEX™ 23, the world’s leading nonwovens exhibition, from April 18 to 21 at the Palexpo Convention Centre in Geneva at Booth 1540.

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Media contacts:

Borealis Group Media Desk
Virginia Wieser, Lena Lehner, Karin Schober
Tel: +43 1 22 400 899 (Vienna, Austria)
Email: media@borealisgroup.com

PFN
Oliver Fecko, Product Marketing Manager
Mob: +420 737 790 177 (Czech Republic)
Email: ofecko@pfnonwovens.com

Maureen E. Brown-Fierro, Purchasing & Logistics Administrator
Tel: +1 570 384 1650 | Mob: +1 570 295 2450 (USA)
Email: mebrown@pfnonwovens.com

About Borealis

Borealis is one of the world’s leading providers of advanced and sustainable polyolefin solutions and a European front-runner in polyolefins recycling. In Europe, we are a market leader in base chemicals and fertilizers. We leverage our polymer expertise and decades of experience to offer value adding, innovative and circular material solutions for key industries such as consumer products, energy, healthcare, infrastructure and mobility.

In re-inventing essentials for sustainable living, we build on our commitment to safety, our people, innovation and technology, and performance excellence. We are accelerating the transformation to a circular economy of polyolefins and expanding our geographical footprint to better serve our customers around the globe.

With head offices in Vienna, Austria, we employ 7,600 employees and operate in over 120 countries. In 2022, we generated a net profit of EUR 2.1 billion. OMV, the Austria-based international oil and gas company, owns 75% of our shares, while the remaining 25% is owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, or ADNOC, based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). We supply services and products to customers around the globe through Borealis and two important joint ventures: Borouge (with ADNOC, headquartered in the UAE); and Baystar™ (with TotalEnergies, based in the US).
www.borealisgroup.com | www.borealiseverminds.com

About PFNonwovens

PFNonwovens is a leading global producer of customized nonwoven fabrics. We make innovative products across multiple key markets:
Baby Care: delighting parents and babies alike
Medical: protecting medical professionals
Adult Incontinence & Fem Care: providing discreet protection and comfort

PFNonwovens is headquartered in Prague, Czech Republic, and operates five production plants worldwide: two in the Czech Republic, and one each in the United States, Egypt, and South Africa.

PFNonwovens’s mission is to lead in material innovation and break down barriers to sustainability. By combining state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities with best-in-class quality and customer-service culture, we develop and commercialize superior nonwoven fabrics that improve quality of life, deliver exceptional value, and a brighter future for our planet. We continuously advance to create the future of nonwovens for personal care and healthcare industries. For more information, visit www.pfnonwovens.com.

SOURCE: Borealis AG